Corporate Buzzwords: Use 'em or Lose 'em On Your Resume

Granted, you are a team player with impeccable customer service skills. But how does that differentiate you from the bundle? Nearly everyone competing with you for that position is making a similar assertion, at least according to their resume. That’s the thing with clichéd words; they are unnecessary and can hurt your chances of landing an interview. Most recruiters have little tolerance for such overused words because they carry zero weight and are highly popular among job seekers. But don’t worry, you can still wow that hiring manager with an easy-to-read resume, stuffed with new keywords. Read on to find out why you should consider avoiding buzzwords on your resume.

Corporate buzzwords can make or break your resume; they play a critical role in landing you an interview or a rejection. It’s that quick and simple. If the language of your resume is just like everyone else’s, you won’t stand out from the competition. That’s why you should use action words or strong verbs. Consider using words, such as accomplish, authorize, change, coordinate, or deliver to add some freshness to your resume. They add confidence and substance to your resume. Put bluntly, these words do a great job of blowing life into your resume, while quickly spotlighting your strengths, and demonstrating to recruiters that you have the skills required to get the job done.

If you are passionate about serving customers, understand that everyone applying for that customer service or sales job is equally passionate about helping customers. However, demonstrating how your passion translates into outcomes, such as increasing customer acquisition and retention rates (indicate exact percentage), will set you apart. Always strive to show recruiters what you’ve achieved rather than riding on overused buzzwords.

Another thing to be mindful of is the fact that clichéd words do reduce your chances of making it through the various applicant tracking systems used by many companies to zero in on top candidates. Use concise words, such as resolved, and avoid using bulky words, such as go-getter, self-motivated, detail-oriented, results-oriented, they will stall your candidacy.

The good news is that there are plenty of action words that you can appropriately sprinkle into your resume to demonstrate your strengths and skills accurately. Always be mindful and respectful of the recruiter’s time. They won’t be spending much time reading through your resume. So, utilize their time wisely. Keep your eye on the prize and submit a standout resume that will land you an interview.